National Home Show offers expert reno advice

If you’re thinking of starting a renovation project look no further than the National Home Show which runs from March 10 to 19 at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.

The National Home Show is North America’s largest home and garden show featuring products and services for your home. There is something for everyone at the Show with more than 700 exhibitors on the floor.

No matter what your project is, the experts at the Show will help get you started on your next renovation. Exhibitors include professional renovators, designers, manufacturers, suppliers and more. Many of them can offer free professional renovation advice.

Considering a small project? Lowes DIY Centre features demonstrations on common home improvement jobs like hanging new kitchen cabinets, stopping a pesky draft or insulating basements.

Visit Design Intervention presented by Reno & Décor Magazine for some great décor ideas. Interior designers and decorators will be on hand to offer one-on-one consultations, free advice and expert tricks.

If you are renovating, don’t miss the 5 Steps to a Successful Renovation seminar on the main stage on March 10, 11 and 14. Two professional RenoMark renovators will discuss the five essential steps when renovating a house or condominium, share what you should know about permits and point out what to look for when hiring a renovator. The complete schedule is available at www.nationalhomeshow.com.

Destination Renovation, BILD’s featured exhibit at the Show is another great source for professional renovation. A team of professional RenoMark renovators will be on hand offering free renovation advice.

Also you can learn about the national RenoMark program at Destination Renovation and how it can help you find professional renovators, trade contractors and custom builders. RenoMark renovators are committed to a Code of Conduct which binds them to things like having a minimum $2 million liability insurance, offering at least a two-year warranty and providing written contracts for all jobs. Learn more at www.renomark.ca.

The National Home Show also features a stunning 2,600 square foot Dream Home that you can actually walk through. This year’s Dream Home is the FutureDreamHome built by PROBUILT, a RenoMark member. It showcases beautiful architecture and design, integrating past ideas with new technology for a modern lifestyle.

The Show is co-located with Canada Blooms which has more than 30 landscapers and more than 50,000 square feet of gardens. Take a stroll through it if you want to get some ideas to enhance the look of your yard or just to enjoy some of the wonderful landscaping exhibits.

The National Home Show has something for everyone. You can find all the features and highlights at www.nationalhomeshow.com. There is also free parking after 4 p.m. on weekdays.

If you buy your tickets online, use the “STAR1” promo code and save $5 off the regular purchase price, exclusively for my readers. Enjoy the Show.

Bryan Tuckey is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. He can be found on Twitter (twitter.com/bildgta), Facebook (facebook.com/bildgta) and BILD’s official online blog (bildblogs.ca).